Comments on: Robert Ryan in Billy Budd: “…what the world has made me” http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/ MovieMorlocks.com is the official blog for Turner Classic Movies (TCM). No topic is too obscure or niche to be excluded from our film discussions. And we welcome your comments on our blogs and bloggers. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:41:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: TCM’s Classic Movie Blog http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-10569 TCM’s Classic Movie Blog Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:13:06 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-10569 [...] movies in his later career, in On Dangerous Ground (1951) and a film that I’ve discussed at length previously, Billy Budd [...] [...] movies in his later career, in On Dangerous Ground (1951) and a film that I’ve discussed at length previously, Billy Budd [...]

]]> By: ChrisIsTheLawr http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-8322 ChrisIsTheLawr Tue, 05 May 2009 19:23:21 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-8322 Great article! I too found this movie - and especially Mr. Ryan - fantastic. I've liked him since I saw The Wild Bunch, but here, he is beyond words. I've read the story and watched the movie right after it, and I was stunned by his brilliant Claggart. He grabbed the character perfectly, and also added some extras - like that dying smile. It was terrific. Claggart is an evil genius, but he is also tragic: lonely like all great villains, and he longs for love and for light, but he's too proud to admit it. It was strange he said he lives without hope; it's very similar when he sings "what hope is there in my own dark world for me?" Iago was an amateur, believe me. Ryan should have won an Oscar for this, but the Academy is filled with idiots. Great article! I too found this movie – and especially Mr. Ryan – fantastic. I’ve liked him since I saw The Wild Bunch, but here, he is beyond words. I’ve read the story and watched the movie right after it, and I was stunned by his brilliant Claggart. He grabbed the character perfectly, and also added some extras – like that dying smile. It was terrific. Claggart is an evil genius, but he is also tragic: lonely like all great villains, and he longs for love and for light, but he’s too proud to admit it. It was strange he said he lives without hope; it’s very similar when he sings “what hope is there in my own dark world for me?”
Iago was an amateur, believe me.
Ryan should have won an Oscar for this, but the Academy is filled with idiots.

]]> By: Frank Reuven http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6204 Frank Reuven Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:27:53 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6204 What a terrific post on a badly neglected actor in need of greater recognition. Ryan's film length monologue in a throwaway movie like Inferno (1953) alone is a remarkable example of his acting ability. He often rose above the material he was given. I'd like to have heard some of the conversations between the Duke (John Wayne) & the liberal Ryan on a movie such as Flying Leathernecks! What a terrific post on a badly neglected actor in need of greater recognition. Ryan’s film length monologue in a throwaway movie like Inferno (1953) alone is a remarkable example of his acting ability. He often rose above the material he was given. I’d like to have heard some of the conversations between the Duke (John Wayne) & the liberal Ryan on a movie such as Flying Leathernecks!

]]> By: moirafinnie http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6135 moirafinnie Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:31:00 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6135 How interesting that so many people have seen this movie and never forgotten it for--what?--forty years! It was all new to me, and extremely impressive, especially <b>Ustinov</b>'s seriousness of purpose, <b>Terence Stamp</b>'s dazzling debut, and <b>Robert Ryan</b>'s supremely human hate-filled loner. In preparing this article I was struck by how much reviewers of the time were bowled over by the freshness of <b>Stamp</b>'s acting. Not to take a thing away from him--the actor's singularity, range and endurance is wonderful, as shown in the more recent <b>The Limey</b>, not to mention <b>Priscilla, Queen of the Desert</b>--but I wonder if his style was much more appreciated for what seemed more groundbreaking to moviegoers then than now? It seems that <b>Terence Stamp</b>, who was so celebrated as part of the swinging '60s has found a way to survive in part because he has taken his own artistic path since then, retreating from the limelight and returning occasionally as an actor and a writer. One of the pleasures of <b>Stamp</b>'s commentary track with director <b>Steven Soderberg</b> on the dvd of <b>Billy Budd</b> was to hear the awed respect that they felt for the subtlety and depth of the work of a no b.s. craftsman of the old school, <B>Robert Ryan</b>. In any case, I suspect that <b>Billy Budd</b> becomes one more part of the imaginary <b>Essential Robert Ryan Box Set</b> that I've been building in the back of my mind for some time now. What a shame no one seems to have encouraged <b>Peter Ustinov</b> to pursue his more serious aims in filmmaking after this picture, but then, the movie business treated some of their most gifted members so cavalierly! I really appreciate your memories and comments about this movie. Thanks, Moira How interesting that so many people have seen this movie and never forgotten it for–what?–forty years! It was all new to me, and extremely impressive, especially Ustinov‘s seriousness of purpose, Terence Stamp‘s dazzling debut, and Robert Ryan‘s supremely human hate-filled loner. In preparing this article I was struck by how much reviewers of the time were bowled over by the freshness of Stamp‘s acting. Not to take a thing away from him–the actor’s singularity, range and endurance is wonderful, as shown in the more recent The Limey, not to mention Priscilla, Queen of the Desert–but I wonder if his style was much more appreciated for what seemed more groundbreaking to moviegoers then than now? It seems that Terence Stamp, who was so celebrated as part of the swinging ’60s has found a way to survive in part because he has taken his own artistic path since then, retreating from the limelight and returning occasionally as an actor and a writer. One of the pleasures of Stamp‘s commentary track with director Steven Soderberg on the dvd of Billy Budd was to hear the awed respect that they felt for the subtlety and depth of the work of a no b.s. craftsman of the old school, Robert Ryan.

In any case, I suspect that Billy Budd becomes one more part of the imaginary Essential Robert Ryan Box Set that I’ve been building in the back of my mind for some time now. What a shame no one seems to have encouraged Peter Ustinov to pursue his more serious aims in filmmaking after this picture, but then, the movie business treated some of their most gifted members so cavalierly!

I really appreciate your memories and comments about this movie. Thanks,
Moira

]]> By: ziggy 6708 http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6125 ziggy 6708 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:16:44 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6125 Thanks so much for bringing attention to one of my favorite movies. Saw it when it first came out, as a youg person, and never forgot it. Compelling performances by Ryan (especially), Stamp & Ustinov, but with one of those endings that always make me cry. And IMHO the b & w photography was perfect, there was no need for color. Also, it's a shame Ustinov, like Laughton, should've directed more films. Our loss, I guess. Thanks so much for bringing attention to one of my favorite movies. Saw it when it first came out, as a youg person, and never forgot it. Compelling performances by Ryan (especially), Stamp & Ustinov, but with one of those endings that always make me cry.
And IMHO the b & w photography was perfect, there was no need for color.
Also, it’s a shame Ustinov, like Laughton, should’ve directed more films. Our loss, I guess.

]]> By: medusamorlock http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6123 medusamorlock Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:41:35 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6123 I used to watch this movie again and again when it would run on our L.A. Million Dollar Movie franchise -- I was just a kid, and at the time I was crazy about "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and David McCallum was in "Billy Budd", too. Great article on a nearly forgotten film -- I wonder, if it had been in color would it be remembered differently, perhaps? And of course great into on Robert Ryan, a fascinating and obviously intelligent actor! Lovely post, Moira! I used to watch this movie again and again when it would run on our L.A. Million Dollar Movie franchise — I was just a kid, and at the time I was crazy about “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and David McCallum was in “Billy Budd”, too.

Great article on a nearly forgotten film — I wonder, if it had been in color would it be remembered differently, perhaps?

And of course great into on Robert Ryan, a fascinating and obviously intelligent actor! Lovely post, Moira!

]]> By: Jenni, St. Louis http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6119 Jenni, St. Louis Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:47:12 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6119 Thank you for the post about this movie. I stumbled upon it a couple of years ago on a Saturday night, my husband ended up watching it with me, and we both appreciated it for the good movie it is. I wish Mr. Ustinov and the cast and crew members would have earned awards for their efforts! I had only seen Terrence Stamp in one of the Superman movies where he played an evil alien, and was so surprised to see him as Billy Budd. He was in the recent Get Smart movie and I thought he and Christopher Lee are two older British actors still out there acting. Good for them! Thank you for the post about this movie. I stumbled upon it a couple of years ago on a Saturday night, my husband ended up watching it with me, and we both appreciated it for the good movie it is. I wish Mr. Ustinov and the cast and crew members would have earned awards for their efforts!

I had only seen Terrence Stamp in one of the Superman movies where he played an evil alien, and was so surprised to see him as Billy Budd. He was in the recent Get Smart movie and I thought he and Christopher Lee are two older British actors still out there acting. Good for them!

]]> By: steve myers http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6118 steve myers Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:54:05 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6118 Robert Ryan has always been one of my favorite actors. To those who haven't seen "Clash By Night" I strongly suggest watching this movie, everyone in it is great, especially Ryan, who really embodies "sinister scumbag" in this film. To those who don't know much about Ryan, read a few of his last words about appreciating life when he knew he was dying of lung cancer,enough said........... Robert Ryan has always been one of my favorite actors. To those who haven’t seen “Clash By Night” I strongly suggest watching this movie, everyone in it is great, especially Ryan, who really embodies “sinister scumbag” in this film.
To those who don’t know much about Ryan, read a few of his last words about appreciating life when he knew he was dying of lung cancer,enough said………..

]]> By: Charles Tranberg http://moviemorlocks.com/2008/11/19/what-the-world-has-made-me/#comment-6116 Charles Tranberg Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:56:37 +0000 http://tcmmoviemorlocks.wordpress.com/?p=5221#comment-6116 Excellent article on this wonderful film along with superb background material and info on the actors including the unsung Robert Ryan. Excellent article on this wonderful film along with superb background material and info on the actors including the unsung Robert Ryan.

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